ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department has cautioned farmers of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir to rely more on other means of irrigation where available as below-normal rainfall will likely lead to reduced soil moisture during wheat sowing season.

The Met Office, in its outlook for November to January (2024-25), says reduced soil moisture as a result of below-normal rain would potentially impact early rabi crop sowing in KP, GB and Kashmir. The below-normal rainfall may also reduce water replenishment in reservoirs, impacting water availability for irrigation and the power sector.

According to the Met Office, La Nina phenomenon is favoured to emerge in November and is expected to persist through the November-January period, whereas the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) index is predicted to return to near normal during the November-December period.

Met Office cautions farmers in KP, GB, AJK about reduced moisture during sowing season

The forecasted dry conditions could result in lower water availability for irrigation, especially in rain-fed (Barani areas). Near-normal rainfall in southern regions may provide more favourable conditions for crop growth in Sindh and southern Punjab.

The Met Office warned that the above-normal temperatures may promote pest and diseases in winter crops, necessitating proactive pest and weed management in regions where warmer, dry conditions could stress crops.

The federal government has set the wheat production target for 2024-25 at 33.58 million tons, to be sown on an area of 10.38 million hectares.

The Irsa advisory committee has anticipated a shortage of water to the extent of about 16 per cent for Punjab and Sindh.

Meanwhile, the Food and Agriculture Organi­sation (FAO) of the United Nations says in its Crop Prospects and Food Situ­ation Triannual Global Report that below-average precipitation amounts, forecast during the main cropping season could adversely impact the 2025 wheat production, the cou­n­try’s main food staple, and further aggravate acute food insecurity situation.

In Pakistan, the report says, the area planted with wheat is forecast to be near average. In the remaining countries of the sub-region, where only small quantities of wheat are produced, plantings are expected to be above average, driven by strong domestic demand for wheat-based products. Overall, the availability of irrigation water, quality seeds, fertilisers and herbicides is adequate, which is expected to benefit yields.

Published in Dawn, November 11th, 2024

Opinion

Revival? For whom?

Revival? For whom?

Numerous sets of numbers, not quoted by govt sources, suggest that things are not as dazzling as claimed by those who run the country.

Editorial

Premature alarm
Updated 20 Feb, 2025

Premature alarm

Improvement in headline inflation gives policymakers chance to fix investment policies, implement structural reforms.
Forsaken province
20 Feb, 2025

Forsaken province

AND the endless cycle of violence continues. The brutal killing on Tuesday night of seven Punjab-bound passengers in...
In poor health
20 Feb, 2025

In poor health

THE absence of decent and affordable healthcare in the country continues to ruin lives. An example of this is ...
Out of control
Updated 19 Feb, 2025

Out of control

AS bodies continue to fall in Kurram despite a state-sanctioned ceasefire, one wonders how long local militants’...
Hollow words
19 Feb, 2025

Hollow words

IT is not uncommon for politicians to resort to the use of hyperbole in order to boost their public standing. ...
Migration matters
19 Feb, 2025

Migration matters

THE grass, it seems, did appear greener on the other side to millions of people as evidenced by the latest UN ...